At the end of the Holy Mass celebrated on the parvis of the Vatican Basilica for the Sunday of Pentecost, Pope Francis led the prayer of the Regina Coeli with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

The following is the Pope’s introduction to the Marian prayer, which substitutes the Angelus at Easter time:

Before the Regina Coeli

Yesterday in Krakow a thanksgiving celebration took place for the confirmation of the cult of the Blessed Michał Giedroyć, in which the bishops of Poland and Lithuania took part. This event encourages the Polish and Lithuanians to strengthen the bonds between them in their faith and veneration of Blessed Michał, who lived in Krakow in the fifteenth century, a model of humility and evangelical charity.

The news of recent days from Sudan are a cause of sorrow and concern. Let us pray for this people, so that the violence may cease and that the common good may be sought in dialogue.

I greet you all, pilgrims from Italy and other parts of the world. who have participated in this celebration: groups, associations and individual faithful. I encourage you all to be open to the docility of action of the Holy Spirit, offering to the world, in the variety of charisms, the image of a fraternity in communion.

May this grace be obtained for us by the Holy Mother of God, to whose maternal intercession we entrust ourselves with filial trust.